Metrorail

Metrorail provides safe, clean, reliable transit service for more than 700,000 customers a day throughout the Washington, DC area. The system is the second busiest in the United States, serving 91 stations in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

The Metrorail system has six color-coded rail lines: Red, Orange, Silver, Blue, Yellow, and Green. The layout of the system makes it possible to travel between any two stations with no more than a single transfer.

Finding the Metro Station

If you're driving, look for the large Metro signs to direct you to stations.

Look for tall brown columns with a large "M" identifying the station entrances. Colored stripes around the column show which lines serve the station.

What's the Fare?

To determine the fare between two stations, use the Fare Finder on the right side of this page. For fares on trips that involve trains and buses, use our Trip Planner. SmarTrip® card users get the lowest fares. See the SmarTrip® box on the right to learn more.

Waiting for the Train

Read station signs to learn which train platform to use for your destination.

Stand behind the bumpy tiles along the platform's edge.

Watch for flashing lights along the platform's edge, which signal a train's arrival. Station signs will also alert you to a train's arrival.

Boarding the Train

Check the destination of the train, which is posted above the side windows.

Stand clear of the train car doors and let riders get off before you board.

Step over the small gap between the platform and the train.

Listen for the chimes that signal the car doors are closing. If the train is full, step back and wait for the next train. Unlike elevator doors, train doors do not reopen automatically.

Exiting the Train and Station

Use the same farecard you used to enter the system when you exit the system.